Scuba Diving

Requirements were
developed and became
effective
December 1, 2009
This is a NEW Merit Badge.

All scuba instruction must be conducted by recreational
diving instructors in good standing with a scuba agency recognized by the
Boy Scouts of America and approved by the BSA local council.

Unlike many other merit badges, the Scuba Diving critical
prerequisites, knowledge, and skills are not itemized in the requirements
nor adequately covered in the merit badge pamphlet. The requirement to earn
Open Water Diver Certification means the Scout must meet training requirements
set by outside agencies and must supplement the material in the merit badge
pamphlet with an entry-level scuba diver manual.

Requirements:

Do the following:

Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that
could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia, hyperventilation,
squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness,
fatigue, overexertion, heat reactions, dehydration, injuries by
aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.

Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR
on a person, and explain how to recognize such conditions. Demonstrate
the proper technique for performing CPR using a training device
approved by your counselor.

Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code with your merit badge counselor,
and explain the importance of each guideline to a scuba diver’s safety.

Earn an Open Water Diver Certification from a scuba organization
recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy.

Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic ecosystems
a diver might experience.

Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba industry.
Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required
for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why
this profession might interest you.

Minimum Course Content for Open Water Diver Certification

The following abbreviated list represents the RSTC “Minimum Course Content
for Open Water Diver Certification.” It is not intended as a complete outline
of learning objectives for an Open Water Diver course. Development of learning
objectives is left to the respective training agencies.

During the Open Water Diver course you can look forward to learning basic
scuba theory and developing entry-level scuba skills required for certification.
All scuba instruction must meet the minimum training standards for Entry-Level
Scuba Certification set by the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC).
Your course will consist of the topics and scuba skills required by the
training organization and as outlined in this section. At a minimum,
the following will be covered.

Decompression Theory and Use of Dive Tables and/or Dive
Computers. Learn how to determine no-decompression limits for
single and repetitive dives, plus how to use dive tables and/or dive
computers to properly plan and execute a dive.

Dive Environment. Learn information on the local
and general conditions of the diving environment and their possible
effects on the diver.

Pool/Confined Water Scuba Skills. Learn and practice
the following scuba skills in a pool or confined water.

Diving system assembly and disassembly

Equipment inspection (at water’s edge)

Entries and exits

Proper weighting

Mouthpiece clearing—snorkel and regulator

Regulator/snorkel exchanges at the surface

Controlled descents and ascents

Underwater swimming

Mask-clearing, including removal and replacement

Underwater exercises—with and without mask

Buddy-system techniques

Underwater and surface buoyancy control

Underwater problem-solving (regulator recovery/retrieval, etc.)

Surface-snorkel swimming with full diving system

Surface operation of the quick release/emergency function of
the weight system

Underwater removal and replacement of scuba system

Underwater removal and replacement of the weight/ballast system

Out-of-air emergency alternatives, including at least one dependent
procedure and one independent procedure

Equipment care and maintenance (at water’s edge)

Open Water Scuba Skills. Perform the following
scuba skills while diving in open water.

Equipment inspection (at water’s edge)

Entries and exits

Proper Weighting

Mouthpiece clearing—snorkel and regulator

Regulator/snorkel exchanges at the surface

Controlled descents and ascents

Underwater swimming

Mask-clearing

Buddy-system techniques

Underwater and surface buoyancy control

Diver assistance techniques (self/buddy)

Surface-snorkel swimming with full diving system

Removal and replacement of weight/ballast system

Removal and replacement of scuba system

Out-of-air emergency alternatives

Equipment care and maintenance (at water’s edge)

Underwater navigation

Notes for Requirement 4:

Agencies recognized by the BSA for scuba training are

PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors;

NAUI - National Association of Underwater Instructors;

SSI - Scuba Schools International;

IDEA - International Diving Educators Association;

PDIC - Professional Diving Instructors Corporation; and

SDI - Scuba Diving International.

In addition to the agencies listed by name, any current member of the
World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) is also
recognized.

Scuba industry standards for Open Water Diver Certification require the
student to be at least 15 years of age. Students under the minimum age who
meet open water scuba performance requirements may qualify for a special
certification that allows them to dive with an adult buddy who has, as a
minimum, an open water scuba certification. Several of the scuba organizations
recognized by the BSA offer “junior” open water certifications for those
as young as 10; others have a minimum age of 12. Such junior open water
diver certifications satisfy Scuba Diving merit badge requirement 4.

Scouts who have already earned an Open Water Diver Certification outside
of a BSA activity from a scuba agency recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
scuba policy may still earn the Scuba Diving merit badge by earning the
Swimming merit badge and completing all other listed requirements.

Note to the Merit Badge Counselor:

Section 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Counselors, in the 2013 Guide to
Advancement (BSA Publication 33088 - SKU 618673) has specific special
qualifications or certifications for either the merit badge counselor or
the supervisor of certain activities that may be involved with the Scuba
Diving
Merit Badge, as follows:

Scuba Diving. All phases of scuba instruction—classroom, pool,
and open-water training—are limited to instructors trained and
certified by one of the BSA’s recognized scuba agencies as found in
the Guide to Safe Scouting.

Counselors for the Scuba Diving merit badge must be registered with the
Boy Scouts of America and be approved by the district/ council advancement
committee.

Like other merit badges, the Scuba Diving merit badge has been developed
to teach and train youth in a manner consistent with the overall goals and
values of the Boy Scouts of America. The merit badge counselor should be
fair and consistent when presenting and evaluating the knowledge and skills
specified by the requirements. None of the requirements may be modified
or omitted.

Unlike many other merit badges, the Scuba Diving critical prerequisites,
knowledge, and skills are not itemized in the requirements nor adequately
covered in the merit badge pamphlet. The requirement to earn Open Water
Diver Certification means the Scout must meet training requirements set
by outside agencies and must supplement the material in the merit badge
pamphlet with an entry-level scuba diver manual.

All phases of scuba instruction—classroom, pool, and open water training—must
comply with the minimum training standards for entry-level scuba certification
adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the U.S.
Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). The RSTC is recognized as the
ANSI Accredited Standards Developer for recreational diving instructional
standards. The BSA acknowledges those standards by limiting scuba instruction
only to instructors trained and sanctioned by recognized scuba agencies.

Each approved instructor must follow the training protocols established
by his or her authorizing agency, including limitations and special provisions
based on medical conditions and age. For Scout divers under age 15, this
will include restrictions for maximum depth, buddies, and supervision ratios.

When scuba diving is taught in connection with any local council program,
such as offering the Scuba Diving merit badge at summer camp, instructors
should provide the training on a contract basis. Such instructors should
have dive store or other commercial affiliation that provides liability
coverage. Direct employment of scuba instructors is not recommended.

Local council programs may not compress or sell air for scuba use, or
sell, rent, or loan scuba equipment (scuba cylinders, regulators, gauges,
dive computers, weights, BCDs).

All air and scuba equipment for local council use must be obtained from
professional sources (dive stores, resorts, dive boat, etc.) affiliated
with a scuba agency recognized by the BSA.

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